Ellen Chambers doesn’t feel like a hero.
But because of her work to make Lakehead Public Schools a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, queer and questioning students, she was recognized as one at city council Monday night. Chambers was one of nine individuals and groups to receive an award for the first annual Mayor’s Community Safety & Crime Prevention Awards. Chambers, who won the Community Hero award, said it was an unexpected honour.
“It’s a huge honour, it really is. I think it’s a tremendous honour for all of us to be recognized as recipients of something that’s so important; safety in our community,” she said.
Chambers, who is also a teacher, started her quest to make local schools a safe place after her son was being bullied. Because of her efforts, Lakehead Public Schools now have a designated safe space for LGBTTQQ students, a Gay-Straight Alliance and anti-homophobic training for teachers and staff.
“It turned out to be an epic journey that has ended extremely well and I’m very proud of where we are in this community and for Lakehead Public Schools but it was a long journey to get us there,” Chambers said.
And while the award may say hero, Chambers said she doesn’t feel like one.
“I actually believe that the heroes are the kids who have to suffer and often do suffer in silence because of their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation,” she said.
The other recipients were:
Business Award – Thunderstone Pictures Inc.
Media Award – CBC’s Common Ground Café
Education Award – Lakehead Public Schools’ education officer Charlie Bishop and principal Michelle Probizanski
Youth Leadership Award – Gurleen Chahal
Enforcement Professional Award – Thunder Bay Police Sgt. Glenn Porter
Outstanding Community Project Award – The John Howard Society’s Re-integration Services
Outstanding Community Project Award – The Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project
Outstanding Community Project Award – Evergreen A United Neighbourhood
